RICHMOND
The Richmond-Dresden Bridge spanning the Kennebec River got stuck for several minutes Monday afternoon after it opened to let through construction equipment being used to replace the bridge.
Richmond police Sgt. Adam Garland said police were called to deal with the bridge malfunction and resulting traffic at 2:51 p.m. The bridge opened to let Reed and Reed Inc. get equipment past, but because metal expands in heat, the bridge wouldn’t shut again, Gar land said.
Garland said Reed and Reed helped the Maine Department of Transportation pull it shut again. The bridge remained stuck open for about 45 minutes, he estimated. Traffic was temporarily detoured down Route 24 toward Gardiner.
Reed and Reed Inc., of Woolwich, is constructing a new 75-foot high, high-level bridge at a cost of $14.2 million to replace the 80-year-old Richmond-Dresden Bridge, known as the swing bridge, which carries Route 197 traffic over the Kennebec River.
dmoore@timesrecord.com
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